It’s great when Top Gear(BBC Two) goes out with a bang. And a crash. And a scrape or three. At the end of an entertaining 20th series which, at times, seemed more than usually concerned with vehicles other than cars (like yachts, caravans, hovercraft and in one bizarre instance a trail bike zipping around the former BBC Television Centre) it seemed apt that a goodly part of this Best of British finale should focus on James May taking a £300,000 newly designed London bus for an accident strewn tour of Somerset.

That was the fun factor, and very funny it was too; and even managed to introduce the notion that some motor vehicles are still almost entirely designed and built in the UK. It followed Richard Hammond’s teasing demolition of the old Range Rover Sport’s reputation, followed by an ecstatic review of the new model (“I feel like I’m driving a luxury hotel room through a swamp”) based on a cross-country obstacle course and some track day racing. Perfect test conditions for a car that, let’s face it, will mostly be used in West London to ferry children to and from school.

Of course what every self-respecting petrol head was really tuning in for was the long-awaited review of the fabulous looking new Jaguar F-Type. What would Clarkson make of it as he tore up “another amazing road in Hertfordshire” (ie remotest Scotland) to a Jimi Hendrix soundtrack. Unsurprisingly, he found much to love (“it’s an X-rated hard-core monster for the terminally unhinged”). Especially its handling and wide range of “intoxicating” engine noises, although one suspects his condemnation of the “unbearably harsh ride” and tiny bootspace hid other complaints about its suitability as a day-to-day car. Oddly enough, it wasn’t subjected to the usual workout from the Stig on the Top Gear test track either.

Perhaps that’s because they need the F-type’s reputation to be pure and unsullied in order to lead the charge in the surprise Hymn to the British Motor Industry series finale. This was a typically over the top, if undoubtedly soul-stirring, 10-minute riposte to anyone out there (say, a passing German or Italian) who might think the British motor manufacturing industry is “a busted flush”. Quite the contrary said Clarkson & Co, and to prove it they decided to list just how much vehicle engineering, design and construction still goes on in the UK. And get every manufacturer and supplier in Britain to send examples of their work to a “gathering” in London.

It was enough to fill the Mall to overflowing as it turned out; a truly impressive (if not very well photographed) sight. And a worthwhile reminder that Britain’s motoring heritage is still alive, well and absolutely thriving well into the 21st century. As for all that flag-waving, at least it put one in an excellent frame of mind for the show that BBC Two so sensitively scheduled to follow: Das Auto: The Germans, Their Cars and Us.